Michael Hogan could not have experienced a better start to captaincy after Glamorgan – who take on Worcestershire at New Road tomorrow – defeated Durham at Swansea and gained their first Specsavers County Championship win of the season.
Yet, the 36-year old seamer – who also took 5-49 in Durham’s first innings and seven wickets in the game – does not believe that leadership inspired him to achieve that first win.
Hogan said: "I hope not, as I have always given the same effort and commitment, and, as a senior player during the past couple of years, have always offered advice and been closely involved in the game”.
He enjoyed the experience, but was also grateful for the help of Head Coach Robert Croft and other senior players gave him during the game.
Hogan said: "You could not have a better advisor than Crofty regarding field placing etc, especially when Andrew Salter, the young off spinner, was bowling.”
Hogan, who will captain the Championship team until the end of the season, gave an insight as to why the batting order was changed during the fourth innings run chase on the final day.
He said: “We kept our left handers back for various reasons. Will Bragg, our number three batsman, moved down to number eight, in case we lost quick wickets, and had to defend and play for the draw with only the tail to come.
"Colin Ingram dropped two places down the order, as we knew their left arm spinner would come on early, and target the rough just outside the left hander’s off stump with the ball relativly new and hard.
"It worked for us as Colin came in to score a rapid 42, and share a partnership of 73 for the fifth wicket. Chris Cooke, another fast scorer, coming in at number seven, was another bonus, especially as their spinners were tiring”.
Glamorgan’s batting has improved since Ingram and Cooke batted together throughout the final day against Nottinghamshire, and drew a game the visitors appeared certain of winning when they forced Glamorgan to follow on after two days.
Since then the batsmen have showed more responsibility and Hogan said: "We have planned on how to approach each innings.
"After a poor first innings performance against Notts, the batsmen were told in no uncertain terms that it was not acceptable, and a blueprint was set for the future”.
As regards tomorrow's clash with Worcestershire at New Road, Hogan said: "They have plenty of quality players.
"They were by far the better team when they beat us by eight wickets earlier in the season, but we have improved since then and are up for the challenge”.
Glamorgan will select from the same squad as the Durham game, with Lukas Carey, the promising young seamer and leading wicket taker this season who was rested for the Durham game, likely to return.
Glamorgan squad: M.Hogan, J.Rudolph, N.Selman, W.Bragg, C.Ingram, A. Donald, D.Lloyd, C.Cooke, A. Salter, K. Carlson, M. De Lange, T. Van Der Gugten, L.Carey.
